DEPOSITION, in Law, the testimony given in
court by a witness upon oath.
DEPOSITION is also used for the sequestrating or de-
priving a person of his dignity and office.
This deposition only differs from abdication, in that
the latter is supposed voluntary, and the act of the dig-
nitary or officer himself; and the former of compulsion,
being the act of a superior power, whose authority ex-
tends thereto. Some say the deposition, and some the
abdication, of King James II.
Deposition does not differ from deprivation: we
say, indifferently, a deposed or deprived bishop, offi-
cial, &c.
Deposition differs from suspension, in that it absolute-
ly and for ever strips or divests a priest, &c. of all dig-
nity, office, &c. whereas suspension only prohibits, or
restrains the exercise thereof.
Deposition only differs from degradation, in that
the latter is more formal, and attended with more
circumstances, than the former: but in effect and
substance they are the same; those additional circum-
stances being only matter of show, first set on foot out
of zeal and indignation, and kept up by custom, but
not warranted by the laws or canons. See DEGRA-
DATION.